Device for steering vehicles.



w." H:- PPLE'MAN. DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES.

, APPLICATION FILED OCT-2T. I9l3. 1,15%,161.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I. I

INVENTOR. fiz r ww won D. c

w. H. APPLEMAN.

DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27. I913.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESSES nouns rum. in. mm. mum-mum. mc.

W. H. APPLEMAN.

DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 27 I913- Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

3' SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I wmvsiz 943/ 1 I UNITED. sTA E s PATENT OFFICE.

WILL AM APPLEMAN, OF BELMONT, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR STEERING VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters IZPatent.

Application filed October 27, 1913. Serial No. 797,590.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Arrnn- M'AN', a citizen of the United States, residing at Belmont, in the county of Allegany, in the State of New York, have invented a new and useful Device for Steering Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved methods for imparting motion to what" is known as the steering arm of steering devices.

The object of my invention is to provide means for eliminating lost motion in case of wear, reduce the cost of construct n, and render the internal parts ofthe device far more accessible than those in devices now in use'for a-similar purpose.

I attain the objects of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyin drawing, in which, igure 1 is a side elevation view partly in section with portions removed inorder toafford an unobstructed interior view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the steering post of my device including also the threaded members carried thereby. Fig.- 3 is' a side elevation interior view of an actuating nut which encircles the steering post and threaded members shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a. top view partly in section of an assembled rocking member as used and partly shown in'Fig. 1 and in which its relationto portions of the casing of Fig. 1 is also, shown. Fig. 5 is an external plan view of the right hand circular plate of the rock ing member shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. A. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation view of my device partly in section with portions removed in.

order to better reveal interior parts. Fig. 7 is. a modification or an interchangeable substitute for Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of'Fig. 2and Fig. 7 taken through the threaded portions thereof. Fig. 9may be considered as a rear elevation of my device assembled completealthough front and rear divided by an enlargedtransverse chamber the entire inner walls of both are machined, also the lateral faces of the walls of the transverse chamber, the external openings of the longitudinal chamber being fitted with externally threaded and adjustable sleeves 1 and 1? both of which are locked in position by compression bolts 1 and l.v

A- steering post 2 is inserted in said longitudinal chamber, its lateral position being maintained by said sleeves 1 and 1'. A pair of externally threaded members, 3 and a resulting from longitudinally dividing an externally threadedsleeve, are located on opposite sides of steering post 2, section 3 being'ri'gidly attached to said steering post while section 4 which is so located on steermg post 2 that its threads match those of section 3, is also free to move laterally upon said steering post. The upper end of section 3 however 'is shortened in order that .when sleeve l 'rests against section 4, said sleeve 1 can by no means contact with sec tion 3. One or more keys 5 are inserted in steering-post 2 directly between the approaching edges of sections 3 and 4 of said longitudinally divided and externally threaded sleeve, for the purpose of rotating them as wellas maintaining them and. steerg5 ing post 2 in a fixed rotatable relation to each other. A sleeve nut 6 encircles threaded members 3- and 4 and moves longitudinally thereon, said nut has its threaded chamber near its upper end, and for convenience of manufacture is counter bored throughout the remainder of its length,

after which it is'bushed to fit slidingly on steeringpost 2 by the insertion of sleeve '2'. The upper end of nut 6 is externallymachined to slidingly fit the bore of housing 1 while the lower portion is enlarged, said enlargement being rectangular and machined flat upon opposite sides, and also provided with a deep slotted opening near its center which lies at right angles with steering post 2. A rocking member consisting primarilyof circular plates 8 and 9 are held definitely apart by spacing extensions thereof, is inserted into the transverse chamber of hous- 105.

ing 1, said plates-being flanged and machined in such manner asto slidingly fit in.- ternally, as well as laterally against the walls of said transverse chamber. The inner faces of said platesare also machined andfilo rest slidingly against the flatted faces of a nut 6 thereby guiding and guarding-it Patented Au uiv, 1915.

against rotation. .Plates 8 and ,9 are each provided with corresponding bosses 8 and 9i, and also bolt hens-s ims 9 the latter being'the larger-orislightlyislotted. Tubu- .lar crank arms 10 and 11 ed in bosses 8? and 9 12 and 13 are fitted upon crank arms 10 and 11, said thimbles being machined externally to a sliding fit in the'slotted opening in the ?enlargement of nut 6. A bolt attached to either 1 1 of .less diameter than the tubular openings through crank arms 10 and 11 passes through said arms while a second bolt 15 of less diameter than bolt hole 9" passes through opening 9 in plate 9, and screws into threaded opening 8 in plate 8, thereby joining with boltlL in binding plates 8 and 9 rigidly together upon their spacing extensions. A steering arm 16 may be integrally plate 8 or 9 or may be attached by a shaft like extension as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 9.

My device is assembled by first inserting nut-6 less bushing 7 into housing 1 through the opening formed by the transverse chamber. Bushing 7 is then inserted and screwed firmly into nut 6 and while not necessary may also be further secured by set screw 7. Steering post 2 along with its separable threaded members 3 and 4c are then inserted through the upper opening of housing 1 and after being brought to their proper position,

are maintained, there by sleeve 1 which bears against the top of threaded member 4 and by sleeve 1 which presents a counter bored socket or seat against the bottom of steering post 2. Plates 8 and 9 with their crank arms 10 and 11 alongv with thimbles 12 and 13am then inserted from opposite sides of housing 1, crank arm 10 and 11 with thimble 12 and 13 at the same time being entered into the slotted opening in nut 6,

' the insertion then and tightening up, of

bolts 14% and 15 renders the device ready for operation. Turning steering post 2 along withiitsthreaded members 3 and 4 to either the right or left causes nut 6 to move longitudinally thereon, and as crank arms 10 and 11 of the rocker enter in the slotted opening in nut 6, said rocker is thereby caused to rock or oscillate in a corresponding direction.

In making adjustments to eleminate wear, it will be found that screwing sleeve 1 1nward, causes it to force threaded member 4 (which is free on steering post'2) downward,icarrying nut 6 with it until it is resisted by threaded member 3,,the latter being unable to yield by reason of its being attached to steering post 2, the lower end of which rests against sleeve 1". The foregoing operation eliminates all wear between the threaded members 3 and 4 and 'nut 6,

as well as lateral movement of steering post 2, after which by slackening bolts 14 and 15 and by them attempting to rotate plates 8 v and 9 in opposite directions as far as 1possible and then tightening bolts 14 and 5, all wear between crank arms 10 and 11 said thimbles and nut 6 .is' eliminated. It will also be found that this adjustment may be made in either direction, the total range of said adjustment being equal to just twice and. their thimbles 12 and 13 as well as between the difference between thediameter of bolts 14; and. 15 and the openings through which they are loosely inserted.

In the modification presented by Fig. 7

threaded members 3 and 4., are both loose or free on steering post 2. They are also separated by key type spacers 5 let into and secured to steering post 2, and thereby serve to cause the former to rotate along with said steering post. Steering post 2 is then maintained in its proper lateral position by reason of collar 2* which is attached to said steering post, and which is also confined between sleeve 1 and threaded member 4, the latter being longitudinally resisted when assembled by the intervention of nut 6 and threaded member 3, owing to the factthat the lower end of threaded member 3 rests against the upper end sleeve 1 while threaded member .4 is shortened at its lower endand does not.

When the modification setforth by Fig. 7

ing separate externally threaded members arranged longitudinally side by side thereon,

said threaded members being adjustably related, a single nut encircling; engaging with, and moving longitudinally upon said threaded members, a rocker journaled in said housing carrying two crank arms which are separable and adjustably related rotatably, and means of engagement between-said nut and both of said crank arms.

2. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post entering therein and carry ing separable externally threaded member arranged side by side longitudinally, said threaded members being adjustably related, a single ,nut engaging with. both of said threaded members, an abutment on said nut containing a slotted opening lying trans-.

versely with. the body of said nut, a rocker journaled in said housing carrying two crank arms which are separable and admstably related rotatably, and both of which enter ble steering rocker journaled in sald housing carrying:

two crank arms which are separable and adjustably related rotatably, and means of engagement between said nut and both of said crank arms.

4. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post entering therein, a thread thereon, a rocker journaled in said housing carrying two crank arms which are separable and adjustably related rotatably, a tubular opening through each of said crank arms, a slngle binding bolt passing through said openings in both of said crank arms,

and a means for imparting motion from said thread to said rocker through each of said crank arms.

5. The combination of a housing, a rotatable steering post entering therein and carrying separate externally threaded adjustably related members, arranged side by side'longitudinally thereon, a single nut engaging and moving longitudinally on said threaded members, a separable rocker j ournaled in said housing, one member of which is adjustably related to the other, and means of engagement between said nut and both of said members of said rocker.

W. H. APPLEMAN.

Witnesses:

' WV. P. CLARK,

JOHN WALTON. 

